The accelerating effect of dissolved redox mediators has been studied in details in the bio-decolorization processes, but there are little literatures about the non-dissolved redox mediators. Here we describe the accelerating effect of anthraquinone as a redox mediator in the bio-decolorization. Decolorization of azo dyes was carried out experimentally using the salt-tolerant bacteria under immobilized anthraquinone and high salt conditions. Anthraquinone as a redox mediator was able to increase the decolorization rate of azo dyes, and was immobilized by entrapment in calcium alginate (CA), Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-H(3)BO(3) and agar, respectively. The effects of various operating conditions such as anthraquinone bead number, dissolved oxygen, temperature and pH on microbial decolorization were investigated experimentally. The reusability of the anthraquinone immobilization beads was evaluated with repeated-batch decolorization experiments. After four repeated experiments, the decolorization rate of CA immobilized anthraquinone retained over 90% of their original value. The experiments explored a great improvement of the redox mediator application and the new bio-treatment concept.